US6020948A - Method for acquiring and printing electronic images on a photosensitive medium, and an apparatus to carry out said method - Google Patents

Method for acquiring and printing electronic images on a photosensitive medium, and an apparatus to carry out said method Download PDF

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Publication number
US6020948A
US6020948A US08/836,235 US83623597A US6020948A US 6020948 A US6020948 A US 6020948A US 83623597 A US83623597 A US 83623597A US 6020948 A US6020948 A US 6020948A
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United States
Prior art keywords
image
sheet
developing
end portion
exposing
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Expired - Fee Related
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US08/836,235
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English (en)
Inventor
Daniele Tumidei
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Gipco Srl
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Gipco Srl
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Priority claimed from IT94BO000481 external-priority patent/IT1274091B/it
Priority claimed from ITBO940480 external-priority patent/IT1274090B/it
Priority claimed from ITBO950034 external-priority patent/IT238927Y1/it
Priority claimed from IT95BO000399 external-priority patent/IT1280007B1/it
Application filed by Gipco Srl filed Critical Gipco Srl
Assigned to GIPCO S.R.L. reassignment GIPCO S.R.L. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: TUMIDEI, DANIELE
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B15/00—Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
    • G03B15/003—Apparatus for photographing CRT-screens
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B27/00—Photographic printing apparatus
    • G03B27/32—Projection printing apparatus, e.g. enlarger, copying camera
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
    • H04N1/19—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays
    • H04N1/191—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays the array comprising a one-dimensional array, or a combination of one-dimensional arrays, or a substantially one-dimensional array, e.g. an array of staggered elements
    • H04N1/192—Simultaneously or substantially simultaneously scanning picture elements on one main scanning line

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the technical field concerned with the production of snapshots, starting from electronically acquired images.
  • reproducing images on a photosensitive medium printing on a negative photographic paper for instance, in its most traditional aspect, consists of placing said paper in a light-proof room and then exposing it with light, carrying information concerning the image to be printed.
  • Said light can be generated by a lamp of a suitable power and colour temperature, and is conveyed by an optical device through a film carrying a negative reproduction of the image to be printed, and then to the photosensitive surface of the photographic paper.
  • the printed image is now in a latency condition and it must be subsequently developed and chemically fixed.
  • the photosensitive medium can consist of auto-positive photographic paper, either self-developing or not. It can be exposed with a light beam that lightens a film carrying the positive image, and then the photographic paper for a period of a predefined length, or by a direct exposure of the subject to be photographed, by means of a suitable photographic camera.
  • a common problem of the above mentioned techniques is that it is not possible to have a preview of the reproduction results. That means, it is not possible to see whether the reproduced image quality will be satisfactory, before the photosensitive paper has been developed.
  • a further object of the present invention is to propose a method for acquiring, processing and subsequently printing of images, that allows to obtain photographic pictures at considerably lower costs with respect to the known processes, and in a simple and versatile way.
  • a further object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus for acquiring and printing of images according to the above mentioned method, which apparatus is of extremely compact size, thus suitable to be installed in small size rooms, and being able to automatically perform the whole sequence of image acquisition, transferring to a photosensitive medium and developing the same medium. All this is accomplished in a very simple way and greatly reducing the consumption of energy and of developing products.
  • a method for acquiring and printing images preferably carried out with an apparatus comprising: electronic input means 1; a computer 10; primary display means 11 and secondary display means 12; a reproduction station 30, fit to print the said images, when displayed by the secondary display means 12, according to a predefined sequence; conveying means 50, placed inside the said reproduction station 30 and fit to receive the light radiation coming from said secondary display means 12 and to convey them towards an exposing room 36; a web 32 of photosensitive medium, which is arranged into a magazine 37 and the end portion 33 of which is placed at the end of said exposing room 36; a cutter 7, to separate a single sheet 5 of photosensitive medium; single sheet developing means 40, fit to receive said sheet 5 and to develop the hidden image; drying means 80 to dry the said sheet 5.
  • the above mentioned method comprises the following operating phases: acquiring a colour image and storing it in a computer 10; displaying the said image on primary display means 11 and on secondary display means 12; exposing a portion 33 of photosensitive medium to light radiation coming from said secondary display means to said portion 33 through conveying means 50; cutting said portion 33 to separate a single sheet 5; developing said sheet 5 by means of single sheet developing means 40.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an apparatus that carries out the method according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 shows an enlarged particular of FIG. 1, which is identified with H;
  • FIG. 3 shows a different arrangement of the secondary display means, of cathodic tube type
  • FIG. 4 shows secondary display means of plasma type
  • FIG. 5 shows secondary display means of back-lit liquid crystal type
  • FIG. 6 shows a lateral section view of the developing means
  • FIG. 7 shows paper-guide means in their output B position
  • FIG. 8 shows a view according to section VIII--VIII of FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 9 shows a front view of the developing means
  • FIG. 10 shows an alternate configuration for the loading means and drain means
  • FIG. 11 shows a different embodiment of the developing means
  • FIG. 12 shows a front view of the developing means of FIG. 11
  • FIG. 13 shows a section view of a shift guide for the photosensitive medium
  • FIG. 14 shows an alternate embodiment of the secondary display means and of the conveying means
  • FIG. 15 shows in more details the alternate embodiment of FIG. 14
  • FIG. 16 shows the LEDs arrangement on the secondary display means of FIG. 15;
  • FIG. 17 shows a detail of three image strips.
  • 10 indicates a computer, that is electrically connected in a known way to image acquisition means 1.
  • the latter consists, for instance, of a colour telecamera, fit to shoot a subject and to send the taken image to said computer 10, to be there digitised and displayed on primary display means 11 and secondary display means 12.
  • Said primary display means 11 can be a standard computer colour monitor.
  • the secondary display means is preferably a cathodic tube type colour monitor, but it can be a plasma display (FIG. 4) or a back-lit liquid crystal display as well (FIG. 5).
  • the image acquisition means in turn can be, other than the above mentioned telecamera, a digital scanner, which is not shown in the accompanying drawings, or a computer mass memory, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk or a magnetic or optical cartridge, in which said image has previously been stored with any known process.
  • a reproduction station 30 is placed in front of the monitor 12. It is capable to receive the light radiation coming from said monitor 12, generated by the displayed image.
  • the reproduction station comprises a chassis 31, provided with a first opening 35 placed exactly in front of the screen 15 of monitor 12, to allow the radiation generated by the latter to reach the inside of said reproduction station 30.
  • a sealing means 3 is interposed between the monitor 12 and the reproduction station 30, to prevent light to enter the same reproduction station through the first opening 35. Sealing means 3 preferably consists of a bellows curtain.
  • a removable magazine 37 for a web 32 of photosensitive medium, negative photographic paper for instance is placed inside the chassis 31 .
  • An end portion 33 of said web comes out from the magazine 37, near a first pair of counter-rotating rollers 38, fit to drag said end portion 33 along a sliding guide 100 (FIG. 13), up to a position which is in front of the first opening 35.
  • the said sliding guide 100 has preferably a convex shape, with its convexity facing the opening 35 and having a such bending radius that the focus defects, dues to the screen 15 spherical or cylindrical shape, are compensated.
  • a light radiation conveying means 50 is interposed, which consist of a lens 51, of a shutter 53 and of a multiple filter 54.
  • Lens 51 is capable to focus the image coming from the screen 15 just on the end portion 33, in order to expose its photosensitive surface.
  • Shutter 53 allows the image to reach the lens 51, and it is driven by a per se known, and thus not shown in the drawings, electronic control unit.
  • Multiple filter 54 includes three filters, each one of whose is relative to a primary colour. They are fit to filter the primary colours of the displayed image, according to a pre-defined sequence, in a phase relationship with the shutter 53.
  • the monitor 12, if needed, can be differently arranged, for instance laterally with respect of the first opening 35 according to a pre-defined angle (see FIG. 3).
  • a mirror 14 is interposed in this case between the opening and the monitor 12, to convey the image to said opening.
  • the multiple filter 54 can be advantageously interposed between display 12b and a lamp 13.
  • the display means 12 comprises a first bar 142, a second bar 143 and a third bar 144, which are placed side by side and fixed together. They are arranged in front and transversely with respect to the end portion 33, so as they face the latter substantially for it whole width.
  • Each of said bars is provided with a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED) 145,146,147, each one is capable to produce the light information corresponding to a single pixel. They are placed side by side and closely spaced, in order to obtain the maximum pixel density.
  • LED light emitting diodes
  • LEDs are preferably arranged by LED groups, e.g 185 on the first bar 142 (see FIG. 16), which are there longitudinally placed side by side.
  • Each group 185 comprises eight LEDs diagonally arranged on an approximately square area 185a.
  • Eight longitudinal, equally spaced LED rows 195 can then be identified on the first bar 142.
  • Each row 195 has also an offset of a pixel with respect to the adjacent one.
  • respective diagonal LED groups 186,187 and longitudinal LED rows 186,197 are defined.
  • LEDs on each of said bars are able to emit a spot of a primary colour by addition, e.g. red green or blue, when driven by driving means 160.
  • This is preferably a computer board, which is connected to the computer 10.
  • the amount of LEDs that are longitudinally placed on the bars 142,143,144 defines the number of pixels of the image that will be reproduced on the end portion 33 in a transversal direction, thus determining the image resolution.
  • the conveying means 50 in the present embodiment, is capable to convey the light radiation coming from each one of LEDs 145,146,146 to each elemental area 106 (FIG. 15) of the end portion 33.
  • Said conveying means 50 is in this case a sheaf 150 of optical fibres 151, tidily arranged according to the LEDs arrangement and mutually kept in place in a known way.
  • the conveying means 50 can also consist of the same lens 51 already described in the previous embodiment, which is arranged to have the end portion 33 in its focal plane. This allows the light spots coming from LEDs 145,146,147 to be reduced in size, thus allowing a less surface density in mounting LEDs on the respective bars.
  • the first pair of rollers 38 is, in this case, preferably driven by a precision electric motor 38a of a known type, by example a stepper motor or a brushless motor.
  • the LED bars 142,143,144 and the sheaf of optical fibres 151 can be shifted in a W direction, which is perpendicular with respect to the V transporting direction of the photosensitive medium. They are driven step by step, in a known and thus not shown way, by a suitable motor member. Alternatively, only the sheaf 150 of optical fibers 151 is movable in the W direction, while the bars 142,143,144 are fixed.
  • a cutter 7 is provided, for transversely cutting the end portion 33, to separate it from the said web 32 to a single sheet of photosensitive medium, which will be identified as 5.
  • a single sheet developing means 40 Downstream of the cutter 7 a single sheet developing means 40 is provided downstream of the cutter 7 a single sheet developing means 40 is provided. It is fit to develop and fix the hidden image on the single sheet 5.
  • Said developing means 40 (see FIG. 6,7,8,9 and 10) comprise a thermoregulating container 41, internally provided with a first hollow 42, communicating on its upper side with a second hollow 43. This latter is open on its upper side.
  • a developing tank 44 is placed inside the said first hollow 42, and its upper end 44a occupies the connection channel between the said second hollow 43 and first hollow 42, thus sealing the latter.
  • the developing tank 44 is provided with a laminar hollow 45, open on its upper side and thus communicating with the second hollow 43. It is fit to contain, according to a predefined sequence, products for developing a photosensitive medium. Because these products are usually very acid, the developing tank is preferably made of stainless steel.
  • the laminar hollow 45 has is sized to arrange the above mentioned sheet 5. It is also very thin, in order to avoid the sheet 5 to roll up when placed inside it, and to save as much developing products as possible.
  • a second pair of rollers 6 is provided, rotatably driven by means of a motor member of a known type, according to a predefined sequence.
  • Rollers 6 are longitudinally arranged in the second hollow 43. They are intended for dragging the sheet 5 alternately toward the inside and the outside of the said second hollow 43.
  • thermoregulating means 46 which is substantially constituted by a heating power resistor 47 and by a temperature sensor 48. Both of them are in tight contact with a thermoregulating fluid. They are operated by the said control unit to keep the temperature of the developing tank 44 at a constant level.
  • a recycling pump 49 (FIG. 9) is provided, which is fit to draw fluid near the thermoregulating means 46 and reintroduce it in another zone of the first hollow 42, in order to create a continuous fluid flow inside the same hollow.
  • the power resistor 47 could be a laminar resistor, and meant for being directly coupled to the developing tank 44.
  • the thermoregulating fluid is not necessary.
  • the lower part of the thermoregulating container 41 could be omitted.
  • Said means 70 comprises a pivotable shaped body, which can be rotated by means of a known operating member, in a phase relationship with the second pair of rollers 6, between an input position A, in which it routes the sheet 5 toward the rollers 6, and an output position B (FIG. 7), in which the sheet 5 is routed to the outside.
  • the said shaped body 70 is provided with two oppositely rounded surfaces, respectively an input guiding surface 71 and an output guiding surface 72, extending toward the second pairs of rollers 6 and converging, immediately above there, to form a cusp 73.
  • an optical sensor 74 (FIG. 8), which is connected to the above mentioned control unit and which is intended to detect a sheet 5, to allow the rollers 6 to be activated. It can detect a sheet 5 passing at both sides of the shaped body 70, through an opening 75 made in the latter.
  • the developing means 40 furthermore comprises loading means 60 of developing products, fit to fill the developing tank 44 with the right quantities of each of the developing, fixing and washing products, according to an operating sequence that will be explained in more details afterwards.
  • Said loading means 60 (FIG. 9) comprises three injectors, respectively for developing liquid 61a, for fixing liquid 62a and for washing liquid 63a (see also FIG. 7). They are preferably placed side by side in the upper portion of the thermoregulating container 41, and they communicate with the second hollow 43, thus allowing the developing tank 44 to be filled by gravity.
  • each injector Connected to each injector is a measuring pump (FIG. 1), whose operation are controlled by the mentioned control unit, and which is fit to supply correct quantities of the product to be introduced in the developing tank.
  • a measuring pump FIG. 1
  • a developing measuring pump 61b is connected to both the developing injector 61a and to a developing liquid container 61c;
  • a fixing measuring pump 62b is connected to both the fixing injector 62a and to a fixing liquid container 62c;
  • a washing measuring pump 63b is connected to both the washing injector 63a and to a washing liquid container 62c.
  • a draining means 64 comprising an electrically activated valve 65, a drain conduit 66 and a drain container 67. Said valve 65 connects, when open, the laminar hollow 45 to the drain container 67, allowing the developing products to downflow.
  • an overload conduit 69 is provided. It communicates with the second hollow 43 via an opening 69a, and it is fit to convey the liquid in excess to the drain container 67.
  • the latter comprises an electrically activated valve 265, provided with a flow switcher of the drain flow toward a first drain container 267a, a second drain container 267b or a third drain container 267c.
  • the loading means 60 comprises, in addition, a first recycling pump 264a, connecting the first container 267a to the developing liquid container 61c, a second recycling pump 264b, connecting the second container 267b to the fixing liquid container 62c, and a third recycling pump 264c, connecting the third container 267c to the washing liquid container 63c.
  • An overload container 268 is furthermore provided, fit to receive the overload liquid from the overload conduit 69.
  • drying means 80 Downstream of the developing means 40, drying means 80 is provided. It comprises an electric thermofan 81 provided with a flexible tube 82, fit to convey a hot air flow toward the area where the sheet goes out from the said developing means 40.
  • a pair of output rollers 90 is provided, fit to engage the sheet 5 and to route it towards the outside, through an output opening 91.
  • the method according to the present invention comprises a series of operating phases occurring sequentially, to obtain an high quality print of an electronically captured image.
  • the description of said method is made starting from a situation where a end portion 33 of photosensitive medium is already placed at an end of the exposing room 36.
  • the shutter 53 is in a closed position and the paper guiding means 70 is in its input position A.
  • the operating sequence then begins with the acquisition and digitising of a colour image from a subject, by means of telecamera 1. This is usually accomplished by an operator, but the subject itself could easily do the same operation.
  • a displaying phase follows, wherein the digitised image is permanently stored into the computer 10, and it is also displayed on the primary display 11.
  • the subject can interact with the operator, to see whether the image quality is acceptable or not. If not, another image is acquired and displayed, until the subject requirements are satisfied.
  • the photosensitive medium is negative photographic paper or film
  • the image is then displayed in negative on the secondary monitor 12.
  • an exposing phase the can take place, herein the end portion 33 is exposed, for a period of a pre-defined length, with the light radiation coming from said secondary monitor 12. This comprises several filtered exposing steps.
  • a first primary colour portion of the multiple filter 54 is placed in front of the lens 51, and then the shutter 53 is opened for a first time step, thus exposing the end portion 33 with radiation of said first colour.
  • a second filtered exposing step then follows, in which a second primary colour portion of the multiple filter 54 is placed in front of the lens 51, and the shutter 53 is opened for a second time step.
  • a third filtered exposing step follows, in which a third primary colour portion of the multiple filter 54 is placed in front of the lens 51, and the shutter 53 is opened for a third time step.
  • the displayed image on the secondary monitor 12 is positive.
  • the exposing phase takes place exactly as described before.
  • the exposing phase is followed by a feeding of the end portion 33, made by the first pair of dragging rollers 38, to drag it toward the input guiding surface 71 of the paper guiding means 70.
  • the latter routes the said end portion 33 until it is engaged by the second pair of dragging rollers 6.
  • the cutter 7 is operated, to cut the web 32 in order to separate, from the previously exposed end portion 33, the above mentioned sheet 5 of photosensitive medium, containing the exposed image in a hidden form.
  • the cutting phase of the sheet 5 is followed by a developing phase.
  • the developing tank 44 is now empty, and the draining valve 65 is closed.
  • the developing measuring pump 61b When sensor 74 detects a sheet 5, the developing measuring pump 61b is operated, to introduce a correct quantity of developing liquid, from the container 61c to the laminar hollow 45 of the developing tank 44. The second pair of rollers 6 are then operated, in a direction that allows the sheet 5 to be introduced into the said laminar hollow 45.
  • rollers 6 are operated to move it alternately, with short rotations of opposite directions. This allows the said sheet 5 to be alternately moved into the laminar hollow 45, to achieve an homogeneous developing action.
  • a first draining step is then executed, during which the valve 65 is opened, thus draining the developing liquid toward the drain container 67.
  • the valve 65 is then closed.
  • a fixing step is then performed, during which the fixing measuring pump 62b is operated to introduce a correct quantity of fixing liquid from fixing container 62c to the laminar hollow 45, to fix the just developed image on sheet 5. This step takes place for another, pre-defined period, after that the valve 65 is opened again, until the laminar hollow 45 is empty.
  • washing steps are executed, each one of whose comprises filling the laminar hollow 45 with a washing liquid, usually water, by means of the washing measuring pump 63b, and the subsequent opening of the valve 65, to empty the said hollow 45.
  • a washing liquid usually water
  • the paper guiding means 70 are then switched to their output position B (FIG. 7), the second pair of dragging rollers 6 are operated to drag the sheet 5 to the outside of the developing means 40, until it is engaged by the output rollers 90.
  • the method according to the present invention differs in draining the laminar hollow 45.
  • the flow switcher valve 265 is operated in order to switch it to the first drain container 267a; when the fixing liquid is drained, it is switched to the second drain container 267b; when the washing liquid is drained, it is switched to the third drain container 267c.
  • a recycling sequence is then performed.
  • the recycling pumps respectively first 264a, second 264b and third 264c are operated at the same time, to transfer the developing products from the said first drain container 267a to the developing container 61c, from the second drain container 267b to the fixing container 62c and from the third drain container 267c to the washing container 63c.
  • This allows the developing products to be used until they are totally exhausted.
  • Developing and fixing periods will be accordingly increased by the control unit, in order to keep the print quality as constant as possible.
  • thermofan 81 is activated, which generates a hot air flow, through the flexible tube 82, to dry the sheet 5.
  • the output rollers 90 are then activated and the sheet 5 is conveyed out from the reproduction station 30 through the output opening 91.
  • a different embodiment of the method according to the present invention comprises interposing, between the displaying phase and the exposing phase, of a further equalisation phase, wherein the image colour balance is modified in the computer 10 by means of a suitable computer program. Equalisation is made in order to compensate the different sensibility of the photosensitive medium to light of different wavelength.
  • the exposing phase comprises a first, non-filtered exposing step, during which no filters are used between the monitor 12 and the end portion 33.
  • a second filtered exposing step follows, wherein a red filter is used. This allows to obtain a good colour balancing, while reducing the exposing time.
  • the secondary monitor 12 is a monochrome monitor.
  • the said displaying and exposing phase are partially merged together, and comprise the following steps: displaying of the monochrome component of the image concerning a first primary colour; exposing said first primary colour; displaying of the monochrome component of the image concerning a second primary colour; exposing said second primary colour; displaying of the monochrome component of the image concerning a third primary colour; exposing said third primary colour.
  • a later variant of the proposed method must be considered when the alternate embodiment of the secondary display means 12 is applied. Said variant affects the displaying and exposing phases, which will take place as follows.
  • the computer 10 sends the electronic value for each pixel of the digitised image to the LED bars 142,143,144, according to a pre-defined sequence and with a computed duration.
  • Each LED 145,146,147 while activated, emits a light beam, which is conveyed by a corresponding optical fibre 151 and reaches a corresponding elemental area of the end portion 33.
  • the LED activation time is related to the intensity of the primary colour corresponding to the LED colour.
  • the computer 10 sends to the LED bars 142,143,144, in parallel, the information concerning pixels belonging to three consecutive transverse strips of the image to be reproduced, respectively to a first strip 172, a second strip 173 and a third strip 174 (see FIG. 15).
  • the first strip 172 is exposed with the information, concerning the first primary colour, of pixel groups which are arranged according to the LED groups 185 on the first bar 142;
  • the second strip 173 is exposed with the information, concerning the second primary colour, of pixel groups which are arranged according to the LED groups 186 on the second bar 143;
  • the third strip 174 is exposed with the information, concerning the third primary colour, of pixel groups which are arranged according to the LED groups 187 on the third bar 144.
  • the end portion 33 is fed by the first pair of rollers 38, for a length which is equal to the distance between two consecutive longitudinal LED rows 195,196,197.
  • the computer 10 then sends to the LED bars 142,143,144 the information concerning pixels which are immediately subsequent to those previously exposed, according to the particular LED arrangement. Because of that, in this phase both new elemental areas 106 of the end portion 33 are exposed, together with elemental areas 106 which were already exposed with a different colour.
  • the light information regarding each transversal image strip 172,173,174 is transferred to the end portion 33 according to a pre-defined number of steps.
  • the pixel information concerning image elemental areas 106 corresponding to LED groups 185,186,187 are sent to the LED bars 142,143,144.
  • These are then shifted crosswise in the W direction, together with the conveying means 50, of a pre-defined distance, which is equal to the distance between two consecutive image elemental areas 106.
  • bars 142,143,144 and conveying means 50 are shifted back to their original position.
  • the motor 38a is then activated, to shift the end portion 33 longitudinally of a distance which is equal to a strip width.
  • the exposing step can then start again.
  • a further advantage is to produce photographic quality prints on paper or film at a fraction of the cost obtainable with other methods of known art, and in a greatly automated way.
  • a further advantage consists in that developing the photosensitive medium according to the present invention is highly efficient and cost effective, because of the very small size of the laminar hollow 45 (whose volume is usually only 10 cubic centimeters). Consequently, the developing tank 44 requires a small amount of energy to be kept at a constant temperature.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Projection-Type Copiers In General (AREA)
US08/836,235 1994-11-03 1995-11-03 Method for acquiring and printing electronic images on a photosensitive medium, and an apparatus to carry out said method Expired - Fee Related US6020948A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT94BO000481 IT1274091B (it) 1994-11-03 1994-11-03 Apparecchiatura per lo sviluppo di materiale fotosensibile
ITBO94A0481 1994-11-03
ITBO94A0480 1994-11-03
ITBO940480 IT1274090B (it) 1994-11-03 1994-11-03 Metodo per l'acquisizione e la riproduzione di immagini elettroniche su supporto fotosensibile e apparecchiatura che realizza tale metodo
ITBO95U0034 1995-03-01
ITBO950034 IT238927Y1 (it) 1995-03-01 1995-03-01 Apparecchiatura per la riproduzione di immagini elettroniche susupporto fotosensibile
IT95BO000399 IT1280007B1 (it) 1995-08-10 1995-08-10 Perfezionamenti ad una apparecchiatura per lo sviluppo di materiale fotosensibile
ITBO95A0399 1995-08-10
PCT/IB1995/000960 WO1996014601A1 (fr) 1994-11-03 1995-11-03 Procede de saisie et d'impression d'images electroniques sur un support photosensible, et appareil mettant en ×uvre ledit procede

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US6020948A true US6020948A (en) 2000-02-01

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US08/836,235 Expired - Fee Related US6020948A (en) 1994-11-03 1995-11-03 Method for acquiring and printing electronic images on a photosensitive medium, and an apparatus to carry out said method

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US (1) US6020948A (fr)
EP (1) EP0789859B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH10508705A (fr)
DE (1) DE69516300T2 (fr)
WO (1) WO1996014601A1 (fr)

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US6241401B1 (en) * 1998-03-03 2001-06-05 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Image forming apparatus
US6366338B1 (en) * 1997-12-22 2002-04-02 Citizen Watch Co. Ltd. Line-scanning optical printer
EP1231503A1 (fr) * 2001-02-09 2002-08-14 Eastman Kodak Company Appareil de développement transportable
EP1267204A1 (fr) * 2001-06-12 2002-12-18 Eastman Kodak Company Système de développement photographique
US6508597B2 (en) * 2000-12-18 2003-01-21 Eastman Kodak Company Processing apparatus system
US6508599B2 (en) * 2000-12-11 2003-01-21 Stephen Thomas Blume Multi-reaction chamber static film processor which allows for multiple overlapped-cycle film processing
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US6636694B1 (en) * 1999-09-14 2003-10-21 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Face image photographing apparatus and face image photographing method
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US6508597B2 (en) * 2000-12-18 2003-01-21 Eastman Kodak Company Processing apparatus system
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0789859B1 (fr) 2000-04-12
EP0789859A1 (fr) 1997-08-20
JPH10508705A (ja) 1998-08-25
DE69516300T2 (de) 2000-11-30
WO1996014601A1 (fr) 1996-05-17
DE69516300D1 (de) 2000-05-18

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